Question Help Transfering Drives from Current System to New System

[Schleppy_1]

I've always started with fresh drives on new builds, so I don't know the answer to this question. Can I just unplug the drives I have and plug them into the new motherboard? My current motherboard is 6 years old. I'm not sure if SATA has changed much since then. My drives are only two years old. I have an SSD and a HD. My new motherboard is an Asus TUF Gaming B760-plus. Ay help is much appreciated, thank you.

 

[rgd1101]

best to do a fresh os install on a new system

 

[Schleppy_1]

best to do a fresh os install on a new system

That's kind of what I was figuring but hoping not to hear. Sigh, the joy of downloading everything again and installing all the drivers.

 

[DSzymborski]

That's kind of what I was figuring but hoping not to hear. Sigh, the joy of downloading everything again and installing all the drivers.

You would have to install the drivers again in any case since it's new equipment, even if you cut corners.

Cutting corners here, on average, will cost you more time and effort than doing it right in the first place.

 

[MLX001]

If it is the same device just to replace the hard drive, then you can migrate the system and the problem is not big, but if the difference in equipment is too big, the system migrated over may not work well on the new device because of the driver brought by the previous device, the probability of problems, troubleshooting is also very troublesome, I also recommend that you reinstall the system on the new device, do not take a chance and expect it to work properly

 

[Schleppy_1]

If it is the same device just to replace the hard drive, then you can migrate the system and the problem is not big, but if the difference in equipment is too big, the system migrated over may not work well on the new device because of the driver brought by the previous device, the probability of problems, troubleshooting is also very troublesome, I also recommend that you reinstall the system on the new device, do not take a chance and expect it to work properly

I think it's wise advice to start with fresh drives. I was hoping that wouldn't be the case because it's kind of a pain, but I'd rather do that to avoid what will probably be, at the very least, several small irritating issues for months.

 

[geofelt]

Unplug/replug will work fine for data files.
Installed apps that used the windows registry will need to be reinstalled.
Steam games have a procedure to avoid reinstallation.

 

[falcon291]

For OS drive and applications, you need to install.

For data drives and game drives you can just plug the drives after OS installation.

All Steam games will run seamlessly after configuring them from the Steam client (you need to install it first)
Origin and Epic games can be configured to use already installed game files, but their configuration is not as easy as Steam Games.
Microsoft Games recently started to allow installation to the selected folders. I didn't try, but with that option using older files become possible I guess.

 

[Schleppy_1]

Unplug/replug will work fine for data files.
Installed apps that used the windows registry will need to be reinstalled.
Steam games have a procedure to avoid reinstallation.

Good to know about STEAM, because I have a ton of those.

 

[USAFRet]

Good to know about STEAM, because I have a ton of those.

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder

 

[DSzymborski]

Really, with Steam, you can basically just reinstall Steam on the OS drive and then install the game drive and point it to the drive. Or drives. I'd go nuts otherwise since I'm an obsessive "have everything downloaded" idiot.